Head lice. Just thinking about the icky bugs can cause your scalp to itch. If your school or daycare center has notified you that lice have been detected, you’ll want to check your child (and yourself) immediately. Here are some symptoms that could tell you your child might have head lice.

If your child is scratching his or her head more than usual, it can be a good idea to check for lice. The most common symptom of head lice is itching. That is because lice bites may cause an allergic reaction that stimulates this itchy sensation. However, it can take a few weeks for this symptom to develop.

Tickling sensation. Some children experience a “tickly” feeling from lice bites or from lice touching their skin.

If you see sores or scratch marks on your child’s head or neck, that can be a sign that a lice infestation has begun. Kids often scratch harder than they need to, which can break the skin and cause sores and scabs.

Head lice can make sleep difficult for youngsters. If your child is having a harder time than usual going to sleep or staying asleep, that might be a sign that head lice have invaded his or her scalp.

If your child is more irritable than usual, this can be an indication that head lice are present. Irritability often coincides with chronic itchiness and sleeplessness. These symptoms can combine, especially when an infestation is more mature.

It is important to point out that an itchy scalp alone is not always an indication of head lice. Itchiness is also a symptom of many other harmless conditions such as dandruff, allergies, or a reaction to a hair product.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a misdiagnosis of head lice infestation is common. The most reliable symptoms, of course, are the presence of a live louse (lice) or nits on a child’s head.

If you are not comfortable with it, not sure what you are looking for or just want a professional to inspect your family for head lice please feel free to call Lice Clinics of Canada – Ontario at 519-208-5423.